John b



1. B. WEST AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-2G. 19H.

Patented Oct. 7,

ama

JOHN B. WEST, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMTIG REGULATOR FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

Application med September 26, 1817. Serial No. 198,888,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. Wear, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Regulator for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its ob ect an automatic regulator for a power plant including an internal combustion engine, and an electric generator, which regulator automatically regulates the flow of air or other gas into the intake manifold of the engine and is controlled by the current generated by the generator of the electrical system of the power lant. It further has for its object a regu ator which is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture, readily applicable to the power plant, and highly efficient and durable in use; and the invention consists in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1. is a front elevation of one form of my regulating means.

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, the cover and parts thereof being removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33, Fi 2.

ig. 4 is an elevation of an internai combustion engine, and the contiguous portion of a motor vehicle showing my instrument ap lied thereto.

ig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing my controlling device connected in the electrical system of a motor vehicle.

My regulator for power plants is automatlcally operated by the fluctuations in the generator circuit so that if the engine runs at such speed as to cause the generator to generate a current of say eight (8) amperes, my device opens the air conduit so that air is taken into the manifold and if speed of the engine drops so that it runs at such speed as to cause the generator to generate a current of two (2) amperes, the air valve is closed so that a richer mixture is taken into the engine cylinders.

Assuming that the device is set to require a current of eight (8) amperes to open the air valve, a current of less number of amperes will be required to hold the valve open as for instance, two (2) amperes, and therefore the valve does not open until the generator 1S generating a current of eight (8) amperes and does not close until the current generated drops to two (2) amperes. The gures 8 amperes and 2 amperes are arbitrarily chosen for'the purpose of illustrat1on. The regulator is usually set to open the air valve after the generator has developed generating speed so that when the engine has developed a speed greater than generating1 speed it can thereafter be run With less ydrocarbon or other fuel as the valve remains open during the time the generator is generating a current up to maximum or above eig t (8) amperes or other predetermined number of amperes. When the speed of the engine and hence the speed of the generator drops a certain amount, the air valve closes. The operation of the valve is controlled by the engine through the electric generator and not mechanically by the en ine.

his invention comprises a conduit through which air or other gas is supplied to the intake manifold, usually between the carburetor and the engine cylinders or to the carburetor above the throttle valve, a valve for controlling the flow throu h said conduit, and means controlled by t e current in the generator circuit for opening and closing the valve. Said means preferably includes an electromagnetic element connected in the generator circuit, and operable by the rise and fall of the current 111 said circuit.

The regulator as here shown is a unitary structure readily connectible to the engine and in the enerator circuit, and comprises a casing inc udin a base 1, and cover 2, the base bei formed with a passage having an inlet an means for connection to a pipe leading to the engine manifold, a valve 3 for controlling the flow through said passage, an electromagnet 4 includin a movable element arranged within the influence of the field of the magnet as a core lever 5, and means connecting the core lever 5 to the valve 3.

The base 1 is in the form of a disk forming the body thereof, and a radially extending stem portion 7, the stem including a portion 8 extending radially on the back of the body or disk and usually to the center thereof, and terminating in an axially extending nip le 9 for connection to a pipe lfl leading to t ie intake manifold 11 of the Internal combustion engine 12, the pipe being usually connected between the carburetel- 13 and the cylinders of the engine.

The cap or cover 2 is mounted on the base 1 and includes an annular wall forming the sides of the casing, this wall being formed with a cut-out at 14 for fitting over the up er end of the stem 7 at the front of tie Body or disk. The stem 7 is formed with two passages 15, 16 connected by a transverse passage 17 one of which as opens through the upper end of the stem in front of the body or disk and into the interior of the space inclosed by the cover 2, and the other 16 of which extends parallel to the former passage in the part 8 of the stem and communicates with the axial passage 18 in the nipple 9. The passage 15 communicates with the outer air through an inlet 19.

arm 21 is located, this weighted arm 23 balancing or partly balancing the portions 20, 21 so that the lever and valve 3 are not affected by vibrations of the engine This core lever 5 is usually sheet metal and in order that the weighted arm 23 may be heavy enough to perform its function within the available space, it is bent U- shaped as shown in Fig. 3 and its extreme end is also mounted on the pivot 22.

The means for transmitting the motion of the core lever 5 to the valve 3 comprises a lever as a, V-shaped angle lever 24 pivoted at its angle at 25, to the base 1 and having one arm as 26 slidably connected to the core lever 5 and its other arm pivoted at 27 to a link 28 extending into the passage 15 and being pivoted'to the valve 3.

The arm 26 slidably engages a 1D 29 extending between the double portion of the wei hted arm 23 below the Wet 22.

e valve 5 is a balance valve; that is, itis balanced so as to be unaflected by the suction created in the passage 15, and as here shown it is formed with a double head connected by a stem 30, the opposin faces of the heads being obviously acte u on equally by the suction. Owing to the alanced valve 3 and balanced core lever 5 this instrument operates accurately under the trying conditions it is sub}ected to.

The valve is shown in its closed osltion in Fig. 3 in which the upper head of t e valve 3 is cutting oil the inlet 19.

When the valve is raised the upper head moves above the inlet 19 so that air can enter through the passa e 15.

Means 15 provided m adjustin the pull of the magnet. on the core 5 in or er to adjust the device to different engines and enerators, and this adjustment is eifecte by changing the relative starting positions of the core and magnet coils. 1 referably, the coils 4 are shiftable relatively to the core 5 and as here shown the coils are mounted upon a support carried by a carriage 31 which is ivoted on the axis 22 and movable about sai axis. Oppositeends of the winding of the ma net are flexibly connected by wires to suita le binding screws or devices 33, 34.

The pivot 22 extends through a hole in the top of the cover 2 and has loosely mounted thereon a pointer 35 which is held in position by a nut 36. The pointer moves over a graduated scale 37 on the face of the cover 2 and indicates on the scale the adjustment or pull of the magnet 4 relatively to the amount of current enerated. For instance, if the current carried by the generator circuit is eight (8) amperes, and the ammeter in said circuit shows eight (8) amperes, the pointer 35 can be adjusted so that the valve will open at eight (8) amperes. The pointer is connected to the carriage 31 by means of a stem or rod 38 extending from the carriage 31 and through a slot'39 in the cover, the pointer being held in its ad'usted position I) a nut 40 screwing on t e threaded end o the stem 38 against the cover.

The pipe 10 may be provided with a suitable valve for opening and closing the same more or less to adjust the device to engines of different sizes. For instance, in a larger engine the valve would be open farther than in a smaller engine and by reason of this valve 41 and the adjustability of the pull of the magnet, an instrument of a given size can be adapted to various sizes .of engines and enerators and conditions.

This instrument is connected up with the coils 4 in series with the nerator circuit between the generator and t e load as shown in Fig. 5 in which the engine 12 is shown as connected to the generator 42 by means of a belt 43 and the generator circuit includes a load comp'risin the-usual lamps 44, storage battery 45, an an automatic cut out switch 46 which opens the circuit when the nerator is running below generating spee to prevent the battery from discharging back into the generator aswill be understood by those skilled in the art. When so connected, the instrument is not affected by variations in the load circuit when the .lights are on or when the battery is working, and hence the instrument is only affected by fluctuations due to the raising and lowering of the speed of the generator.

In operation, when the instrument is aplied to an engine, the point at which the indicator 35 should be set is readily ifound and set at the oint at which the engine operates most e ectively.

The valve 3 is normally closed and as the engine speeds up and reaches a predetermined speed, it causes the generator to generate' current of. redetermined amperage which energizes t e ma et 4 to operate the core lever 5 and lift t e valve 3 to open position.

When the speed drops a predetermined amount and less current is generated, the

5 magnet becomes deenergized sufliciently to permit the valve to close, so that a richer mixture is taken into the manifold, that is, a mixture which is unmixed with air other than the air drawn in through the carbu- 0 reter.

The point at which the indicator should be set differs for each engine and by reason of this adjustment the device is applicable to all engines.

:5 This device is particularly advantageous in that it can be relied u n to work automatically under all conditions and further in that 1t admits air into the intake manifold above the carburetor and the throttle 80 so that when the valve opens, each cylinder at the end of the suction stroke of the pis= ton therein, is filled as completely as ppssible with as and air at normal pressure, it being un erstood that it is impossible to 35 fill a cylinder completely at normal, that is atmospheric pressure by the suction created by the piston. Hence, u on compression, when the en ine is throttle the small charge of gas as d istinguished from the gas plus up the air is compressed to the same extent as a cylinder full of as (without additional air) when the throttTe is wide 0 en. Hence, the small charge will ignite a most as readily as a full or unthrottled charge or at least l5 much more readily than a throttled char e without auxiliary air. As the speed of t e engine increases under this operation, and as the larger air passa e is through the carbureter, proportionate y more air is drawn in through the carbureter to form a richer mixture and free air through the air valve, hence the compression increased and the power and speed accelerated. Hence, the throttle can be closed farther to maintain a predetermined speed thus saving gasolene.

This operation is due to the fact that the valve opens wide and is not afi'ected or regulated by the suction or anything that causes it to fluctuate.

Owing to the fact that the valve is wide open, the suction or pull in the cylinder is relieved when the gas passing through the carbureter wire draws or is not suificient to fill the space of the cylinder at atmospheric pressure; and in addition as before stated, the air filling the cylinder brings the compression up to normal so that a small charge fires more readily than the usual throttled charge without additional air.

In fact, by actual test in the practical use on automobiles a saving of from 25% to 33% in fuel as well as gain in power is obtained, and by dynamometer test a saving in gasolene of 20% at all engine speeds is shown as well as increase in power.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an electric generator connected to the engine to be actuated thereby, of an air conduit connected to the intake a ove the throttle, a valve in the air pipe, and electro-magnetic means connected in circuit with the generator to open and hold open the valve when the engine attains a predetermined speed and the generator produces a current of predetermined value, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engine and an electric generator driven by the engine, the regulator comprising a casing including a base, and a cover, the base having an air passage, and an inlet opening into said passage, a valve for controlling the flow of air through the passage, an electromagnet including two elements mounted on the base, one element having windin connected in the enerator circult, and H other element being arranged to be acted upon by the magnetic field of the windings, one of said elements being movable, and power transmittin means between the movable element-and t e valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. An automatic regulator for power 105 plants includin an internal combustion engine, and an e ectric generator driven by the en inc, the regulator comprising a base forme with an air passa having an inlet,

a valve for openin and cldsing the passage, 110 the valve being ba anced against the suction of the engine, an eleotromagnet having windings connectible in the enerator circuit and a movable core mounte in the base and connected to the valve substantially as and for 11! the purpose described.

4:. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engine, and an electric generator driven by the engine, the regulator com rising a base 12C formed with an air passage aving an inlet,

a valve for opening and closing the passage,

an electromagnet having windings connectible in the generator circuit, a movable core mounted on the base, and power transmit- 125 ting means between the core and the valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion en- 180 gine, and an electric generator driven by the engine the regulator comprising a 'base formed with an air pas and an inlet, a valve for controlling the ow of air through said inlet, an electromagnet coil mounted on the base, a balanced pivoted core arranged within the influence of the coils, and means for transmitting the motion of the core to the valve, substantially as for the purpose described.

6. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engine, and an electric generator driven by the engine, the regulator comprismg a base formed with an air passa e, and an inlet, a valve for controlling the ow of air through said inlet, electromagnetic means mounted on the base including a pivoted core having an arc-shaped paortion concentric with the pivot and mova le through the coils of the magnet, and means for transmitting the motion of the core to the valve, said means including a lever, one arm of which is slidably connected to one of the parts it connects and pivotally connected to the other of said parts, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7, An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engine, and an electric generator driven by the engine, the regulator comprising a base formed with an air pas e, and an inlet, a valve for controlling the ow of air through said inlet, electromagnetic means mounted on the base including a pivoted core, power transmitting means between the core and the valve comprisin a lever pivotally connected to the valve an slidably engaged with the core lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An automatic regulator for power plants includin an internal combustion en- 'ne, and an e ectric generator driven by t e engine, the regulator comprising a base formed with an air passage having an inlet, a balanced valve for controlling the flow into the passage through the inlet, and electroma etic means for operating the valve includlng a. balanced core lever, substantially as and for the pur ose described.

9. An automatic regu ator for power plants including an internal combustion engins, and an electric generator driven by the engine, the re lator com risin a base and a cap detacha ly mounte on t e base, the base comprising a body 'rovided with a radial stem portion exten ing on the back of the base, an air passage extending lengthwise of the stem and openin through the inner end thereof in front of the body of the base, a passage extending lengthwise of the stem parallel to the former passage in the rear of the body of the base and being connected to the former passage and having an outlet located at the rear of the body, a valve name gine, the regulator compnsing a casing includlng a base, and a cover the base having an air passage, and an inl sa1d passage, a valve for controlling the flow of air through the passage, an electromagnet including two elements mounted on the base,

one element having windings connected in the generator circuit, and the other element being arranged to be acted upon by the mag netic field of the windings, one of said elements bein movable, and power transmitting means etween the movable element and the valve, one of said elements being shiftable relatively to the other to change the starting position thereof relatively to the' other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engine and electric generator driven by the engme, the regulator comprising a casing includrng a base, and a cover, the base having an anpassage, and an inlet opening into sa1d passage, a valve for controllmg the flow of an through the passage, an electromagnet includmg two elements mounted on the base, one element having its winding connected in the generator circuit, and the other element being arranged to be acted upon by the magnetic field of the windings, one of said ele ments bein movable, and power transmitting means etween the movable element and thanks, one of said elements being shiftable relatively to the other to change the starting position thereof relatively to the other, and means for shifting said element, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. An automatic regulator for power plants including an internal combustion engme, and an electric generator driven by the engine, the regulator comprising a base formed with an air passage, and an inlet, a valve for controlling the flow of air through said inlet, electromagnetic means mounted on the base including a pivoted core within the influence of the magnet, and means for transmitting the motion of the core to the valve, the coils of the magnet being shiftable relatively to the core, and means for shiftin them in their adgusted position, substantially as and for the pu ose specified.

13; An automatic regblator for power et opening into said coils and holding I plants includin an internal oombustion ene, and an fiectrie generator driven by t e engine, the regulator eomprising a base formed with an air age, a. valve for 5 opening and closing t e passage, a carrier mounted on the base, a magnet mounted on the carrier, an armature element located within the influence of the magnet, power transmitting means between the armature and the valve, and means for shifting the 10 carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed 111 name, at Syracuse, in the count of Onon aga and State of New York, th1s 15 20th day .of September, 1917.

JOHN B. WEST. 

